Instantiating your network inventory by using design and assign

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Instantiating your network inventory by using design and assign

    Thedesign and assignfunction in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application allows ServiceNow customers to generate, validate, and manage network inventory records at the site level. It supports instantiating individual network instances from predefined inventory templates and models, ensuring proper configuration and alignment with network requirements.

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    This process involves creating and managing change requests and tasks that document and implement network changes, enabling efficient tracking, execution, and closure of network inventory modifications.

    Key Features

    • Change Request Creation: Use change models to create detailed change requests capturing the reason, priority, risk, type, and category of network changes. This facilitates modifying workflows, expanding capabilities, and managing new or existing network services.
    • Change Task Execution: Change tasks, either workflow-generated or manually created, allow assignment to inventory agents to perform specific actions, create configuration items, and collaborate concurrently. Tasks are tracked until completion and closure.
    • Record Producer Integration: Assign record producer forms to change models or request types to automate and streamline data capture for inventory allocation tasks. This enables passing parameters from third-party applications and auto-generating change requests and tasks with pre-filled details.
    • Network Element Management: Design and assign supports creating and modifying key network components such as Link Aggregation Groups, GPON broadband services, logical and physical connection endpoints, network topology records, cables, equipment, racks, and composites.
    • Data Center Infrastructure Allocation: Reserve rack unit space in data centers based on change requests and configured placement policies, ensuring proper physical resource management.
    • Configuration Item (CI) Management: Revise and operationalize configuration items to apply finalized changes to network components.
    • Phone Number Allocation: Design and assign phone numbers from pools or standalone formats to fulfill customer telecommunications service requests.

    Practical Application

    ServiceNow customers can leverage this functionality to execute complex network changes systematically, from initial design through implementation and operationalization. The integration with change management processes ensures that network inventory updates are auditable, coordinated, and aligned with customer orders and service fulfillment requirements.

    By using design and assign, customers can:

    • Fulfill order requests by creating or modifying network infrastructure elements accurately.
    • Visualize network topology and manage physical and logical connections effectively.
    • Coordinate multiple concurrent tasks across agents for efficient change execution.
    • Ensure proper documentation and closure of all network inventory changes.

    By instantiating your network inventory in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application, you can generate and validate your inventory records at the site level. You can also generate your individual network instances from your defined inventory templates and models and then verify that they’re properly configured.

    Design and assign overview

    You can instantiate a network inventory by using the design and assign function by doing the following tasks:
    1. Create a change request by using the change model.

      A change request records the details about the change, such as the reason of the change in any network, priority, risk, type of change, and change category. By using a change request, you can change any existing network workflow. You can also expand the application capabilities, request new services, modify network structures, and much more. To learn more, see Create a change request from Network Inventory Workspace.

    2. Execute a change task.

      The list of tasks are created from a change-triggered workflow or you can create a change task manually. The change tasks help you to track and manage the various tasks required to implement the requested changes. By using a list of change tasks, you can assign a task to an inventory agent who can then execute the actions and create a configuration item. At the same time, other agents can work on their assigned change tasks. After all tasks are completed and closed by the agents, the change request can also be closed with comments. To learn more, see Create and execute a change task.

    Using a record producer in the design and assign function

    If a record producer form is assigned to the selected change model, based on the provided input, a change request is automatically generated. If a record producer form isn’t assigned, you can assign a record producer. To learn more, see Assign record producer form to a change model.

    The record producers capture the data that you must enter to perform the inventory allocation task. By mapping a record producer form, you can do the following tasks:
    • Pass third-party application parameters to the Telecommunications Network Inventory application. The Order Management for Telecommunications and Media (OMT) integration is an example. After you assign a record producer form to the change model, the assigned form appears when you select that change model. When you complete the form, the details are filled in the change request form, and the change tasks are created automatically. To learn more, see Assign record producer form to a change model.
    • Change the type of change request. The change task form includes a Request type field that describes the type of change request. Based on your selection, a form appears on the Task Attributes tab. By assigning a record producer form to the request type field of the change task, you can determine which form appears when you select a type. Based on the selected Request type field, a form appears under the Task Attributes tab. After filling out the fields in the form, the change request form updates. To learn more, see Assign record producer form for a request type of a change task.